MSP Fergusson to chair dairy code review
The long-awaited review of the dairy voluntary code will be chaired by Alex Fergusson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries. While there is no set timetable, the review should conclude by the start of the next milk year on 1 April.
Milk producers and others can have their say on the code through Dairy UK, NFU or the NFUS, the three industry organisations that established it.
Prior to his election as a Conservative MP, Mr Fergusson was a hill farmer in South Ayrshire and a farm consultant. As chairman he will act as mediator and facilitator as the review process assesses the effectiveness of and compliance with the code in its first year.
Principal components of the code
For non-co-ops, including groups in transition to co-op status, where milk price is set at buyer’s discretion:
- Gives producers the option of resigning with three months’ notice following a change to the base price, price adjustments or any contract clause that has a significant commercial implication on the producer
- Puts in place a mechanism to engage in dialogue or consultation on price changes.
For all purchasers, including co-ops, the code requires purchasers to:
- Give producers 30 days’ notice of any downward movement in the base price, variation to price adjustments or any contract clauses
- Not to use retrospective price changes
- When the buyer has more than 250 contracted farmers, they must provide a choice of contracts with different pricing mechanisms
- Offer expanding producers a non-exclusive contract when the purchaser does not wish to take the additional milk on the same terms
- Include an early termination clause which would enable producers to leave on not less than four weeks’ notice on payment of a penalty.
Exclusivity in milk contracts is one element of the review and something that the NFU was keen to progress, said chief dairy adviser Rob Newbery.
More on the dairy code
It must also consider the independence of democratically accountable supply groups and their role in negotiation and agreeing pricing with milk buyers.
Under the review the two farming unions must also establish a best practice guide for good corporate governance for co-ops, producer group efficacy and democratic accountability.
“The creation of the voluntary code was welcomed widely across the industry and the review process presents a good opportunity for all to constructively address the issues that have emerged over the last year or so,” said Mr Fergusson.
“I am honoured to be asked to chair the review and will bear very firmly in mind that we are trying to achieve fairness and progress for the industry.”
Formally called the Dairy Industry Code of Best Practice on Contractual Relationships, the code was finally agreed in early September 2012.
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